Letters: Contrasting George and Mitt Romney

Re “Romney low-key on civil rights,” July 8

Besides reminding me that I have been following politics for way too long, your front-page story about George Romney reminded me of an admirable, moderate Republican candidate for president whom I would support today and would have supported then if I hadn’t been too young to vote in 1968. The contrasts with his son Mitt — in conviction and action — are striking.

Having been successful in business, governor of a very progressive state and having somehow secured the nomination of today’s Republican Party, Mitt Romney should be perfectly positioned to use these foundations to lead with the convictions and daring ideas that might bridge our current partisan gaps (like his father).

Too bad his approach seems to be to doing whatever seems expedient at the moment to get “president” onto his resume.

Mark Stocket

Pacific Palisades

The headline made it seem that The Times had entered a 1960s time warp or was seeking a new attack line. The rambling article’s main point was Romney’s easing off on some affirmative action programs while governor of Massachusetts.

Preference programs are the real civil rights issue today: the quotas, subsidies and affirmative action laws for politically favored classes. It is not a “civil right” to receive preferential admissions or promotions, so feel-good goals like diversity trump merit.

We need more elected officials working to end these divisive programs, which raise doubts about the true competency and achievements of otherwise capable people who happen to be members of the preference groups.

Kevin Dretzka

Los Angeles

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